Bhagavad Gita 16.21 — Lust, Anger and Greed: The Three Gates to Hell
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः ।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥ १६.२१ ॥
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There are three gates leading to this hell of self-destruction: lust, anger and greed. Therefore, one should abandon these three.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tri-vidham | of three kinds, threefold |
| narakasya | of hell |
| idam | this |
| dvāram | gate |
| nāśhanam | destructive, ruinous |
| ātmanaḥ | of the soul |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| kāmaḥ | lust, desire |
| krodhaḥ | anger |
| tathā | and |
| lobhaḥ | greed |
| tasmāt | therefore |
| etat | these |
| trayam | three |
| tyajet | one should abandon |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tri-vidham | of three kinds, threefold | kāmaḥ | lust, desire |
| narakasya | of hell | krodhaḥ | anger |
| idam | this | tathā | and |
| dvāram | gate | lobhaḥ | greed |
| nāśhanam | destructive, ruinous | tasmāt | therefore |
| ātmanaḥ | of the soul | etat | these |
| trayam | three | ||
| tyajet | one should abandon | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna now gives the practical key to the entire discussion. There are three gates leading to hell, which destroy the self: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, every seeker must abandon these three. After many verses of description, this is the clear instruction that makes the teaching actionable.
Essence
Three Gates to Self-Destruction
Tri-vidhaṁ narakasya idaṁ dvāram (this threefold gate of hell): Lord Krishna uses the image of a gate: the entrance through which a person walks into suffering. Importantly, these gates are within us, not outside.
Kāmaḥ (lust or desire): The craving for pleasure and possession. It begins as a small wish and grows into obsession.
Krodhaḥ (anger): The reaction that arises when desire is frustrated. Anger clouds judgment, damages relationships, and leads to regret.
Lobhaḥ (greed): The urge to keep accumulating and never feel satisfied. When desire is fulfilled, greed arises; when obstructed, anger arises. The three are linked as a cycle.
Nāśanam ātmanaḥ (destroying the self): These three do not merely harm external situations; they erode the inner being. They destroy peace, clarity, conscience, and eventually the very capacity for spiritual growth.
Tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet (therefore one should abandon these three): The instruction is simple and direct. The Gita does not say to suppress them with force, but to gradually give them up through discrimination, practice, and devotion. As Lord Krishna taught in earlier chapters, the mind is purified by the combined power of knowledge, self-discipline, and surrender to the Divine.
Message for Everyday Life (Guarding the Three Gates)
Know your triggers: Observe which of these three, desire, anger, or greed, shows up most often in your life. Awareness is the first step to freedom.
Practical approach: When desire arises, pause and ask whether it truly serves your well-being. When anger arises, breathe before reacting. When greed arises, practise generosity by giving something away. Each small act of restraint closes the gate a little more.
Three Gates to Self-Destruction
Tri-vidhaṁ narakasya idaṁ dvāram (this threefold gate of hell): Lord Krishna uses the image of a gate: the entrance through which a person walks into suffering. Importantly, these gates are within us, not outside.
Kāmaḥ (lust or desire): The craving for pleasure and possession. It begins as a small wish and grows into obsession.
Krodhaḥ (anger): The reaction that arises when desire is frustrated. Anger clouds judgment, damages relationships, and leads to regret.
Lobhaḥ (greed): The urge to keep accumulating and never feel satisfied. When desire is fulfilled, greed arises; when obstructed, anger arises. The three are linked as a cycle.
Nāśanam ātmanaḥ (destroying the self): These three do not merely harm external situations; they erode the inner being. They destroy peace, clarity, conscience, and eventually the very capacity for spiritual growth.
Tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet (therefore one should abandon these three): The instruction is simple and direct. The Gita does not say to suppress them with force, but to gradually give them up through discrimination, practice, and devotion. As Lord Krishna taught in earlier chapters, the mind is purified by the combined power of knowledge, self-discipline, and surrender to the Divine.
Message for Everyday Life (Guarding the Three Gates)
Know your triggers: Observe which of these three, desire, anger, or greed, shows up most often in your life. Awareness is the first step to freedom.
Practical approach: When desire arises, pause and ask whether it truly serves your well-being. When anger arises, breathe before reacting. When greed arises, practise generosity by giving something away. Each small act of restraint closes the gate a little more.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has named lust, anger, and greed as the three gates to self-destruction. But what happens to the one who is free from them? In the next verse, He describes the positive result: such a person works for his own highest good and ultimately reaches the supreme goal.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Three doors lead down; guard them well.
Wanting without limit is losing without end.
A moment of anger can cost a lifetime.
The more you take, the less you keep.
Conquer yourself, conquer the world.
Remove the root, and the tree falls.
Let go of the three and rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three 'dvāra' (gates) mentioned in this verse?
Why are they called gates to 'naraka' (hell)?
How are these three related?
What does 'nāśhana' (destructive) imply here?
How can one 'tyaj' (abandon) these three?
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